Founded | 2002 |
---|---|
Country of origin | United States |
Headquarters location | Redmond, Washington |
Distribution | Diamond Book Distributors |
Key people | Lisa Stevens, Erik Mona, James Jacobs, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, Jason Bulmahn |
Publication types | Role-playing games, board games, Books |
Fiction genres | science fiction, fantasy |
Official website | paizo |
Paizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" (Dungeons & Dragons) and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder. The company's name is derived from the Greek word παίζω paizō, which means 'I play' or 'to play', and in 2014, the company changed its name to Paizo Inc. Paizo also runs an online retail store selling role-playing games, gaming aids, board games, comic books, toys, clothing and other products, and has an Internet forum community. The current CEO of Paizo is Lisa Stevens.
Paizo formerly produced Dragon and Dungeon magazines, both published under license from Wizards of the Coast. Publisher Erik Mona is former Editor-in-Chief of Dragon. The former Editor-in-Chief of Dungeon is James Jacobs, who is now Creative Director overseeing various Pathfinder accessories. In early 2007, it was announced that the license had lapsed and would not be renewed, effective September 2007.
Paizo announced on March 18, 2008, that they would be launching the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Through the new product line, Paizo would modify, update, maintain, and publish the 3.5 System Reference Document (under Wizards of the Coast's Open Gaming License). The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game would also support Paizo's Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting. In March 2008 Paizo also announced that it was introducing an organized play program called "Pathfinder Society Organized Play." The program was loosely modeled on the RPGAs "Living" campaigns. It releases 28 scenarios each year (two each month, four in July and August) for members to purchase. Scenarios are short adventures meant to be completed within four to five hours.